(Department of Languages, University of Delta, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria)

Abstract: Drama is a veritable instrument of social mobilization and conscientization. It can be deployed to articulate and interpret the social, political, cultural and economic experiences of a people at any given period. Nigerian dramatists especially in the contemporary era use their creative works to raise the consciousness of the oppressed and less privileged members of the society towards revolutionary ideals. This is the crux of this study. The paper seeks to demonstrate that literary engagements in Nigeria today has shifted from art-for-art-sake slogan, to reckoning on art particularly drama as a relevant instrument of social mobilization. The paper therefore, evaluates Sam Ukala’s presentation of the conflict that arises as a result of the dichotomization of the society in The placenta of Death. Textual analysis of the play reveals that the causes of conflict are injustice, enslavement, misrule, exploitation and inequality among others. Premised on the Marxist canon, the paper concludes that the way forward is to change the status quo, by resisting these unjust and inhuman situations and making the society embrace the virtues of equity, justice and respect for all, irrespective of one’s class, wealth or tribe.